Weblog Archives

Getting Ready for the New Mass Translation

February 22, 2011

John Michael Talbot speaks about music he is writing for the new translation of the Mass.

Pray Tell is a fun weblog which seems to be offering a lot about the upcoming Mass translation changes.

And I only say that after coming across an article about Michael Joncas, who’s writing a new musical setting for the Mass.

Here is a version of the Lord’s Prayer, by Joncas. It’s a 4 part, Russian Orthoxdox meeets John Rutter type of treatment. (Well… it is.)

And then there’s Sing the New Mass from the folks over at World Library Publications.

Sylvane at Easter You can preview their offerings there.

Monday's a Blessing

February 21, 2011

I’ve been helping out from time to time by playing the organ at a Church downtown when I’m able and when they’re in need.

Buried amidst the windows in the loft, as is the case in most Church lofts, are windows that no one ever sees, but which tell some type of story which begs for more answers.

Like this window, picturing a Church engulfed in flames.

It’s not the kind of window you really want to put on the fourth floor, when this is the only way down.

Of course there are also the lengthy galleries, which occasion much walking to and fro between sets of stairs. That’s the cantor way over there, who’s walking upstairs to talk over music before I walk down stairs to discuss improvements to my cardio vascular health.

It’s a beautiful place, with small gardens here and there.

Later that night, this is hardly a great picture. But my shadow in the left, it’s looking like a tall version of Jabba the Hut with a camera. That also occasions discussions of my cardio-vascular health.

Monday ~~~ an awesome day for reflection to begin the week.

Those Japanese Magnolias

February 21, 2011

It’s definitely springtime in New Orleans. For the next three months at least. And I so do not have the time to do it justice… here are some photos in my learning phase… springtime in New Orleans, Japanese Magnolias, from my camera…. I pray my photos are better in time. If you don’t have a few years… Well, check back when you do. And I pray that you do, long before then!
,

Redoing Linx..

February 16, 2011

I’m getting together some links to eventually redo my connections, and have a couple here…

Well, I just deleted one, realizing it’s heretical. Life is tough like that sometimes.

Focus on the Family’s Plugged In offers reviews and reflections, etc., on pop culture.

Well, I guess that’s it.

An Interesting Article relates ongoing Christian leaders’ concerns for the continuation of Christianity in the Mid-East.

“According to the archbishop, Europe and North America are blind to the possibility of such an “Islamization” of the Middle East.

The western mentality does not allow it to fully comprehend this risk,” he said.

He explained that politics and religion are interwoven in the Middle East, whereas there is “a tremendous void” between them in western nations.

This results in two extremisms, he said. The Middle Eastern mentality is dominated by Islam, while a secularism that denies its Christian roots and relegates Christian values to the private sphere reigns in the West.

Although “material violence” does not appear in the West, the general privatization of Christianity is “against democracy,” he said. “In the East, however, it is the opposite: religion pervades all.”

He called the future of the Middle East “unknown and scary” and said the international community is “incapable of moving” in reaction to the recent turn of events.

Confessions and Links

February 3, 2011

I see I am going to have to redo this entire site again. That’s not surprising given the fact that I’ve been having a lot of dust settling here and there. However, that should prove to be a simple matter.

When I first started in 2002, my site was called “Confessions of a Catholic Seminarian“, and that really only changed over time because… well, because. But I’ve wanted to change it back since Ordination, and things like deaths in the family, Katrina, presbyteral politics and such, always took a front seat.

That being said, I’m just going to start playing around with this, since I need a creative outlet.

Lynne’s Country Kitchen‘s sauces, and her buckwheat crepes.

Rao’s Sunday Gravy, linking braciola and meatballs.